Ancient India nurtured one of the earliest philosophical traditions of the world, preserving reflections on metaphysics, ethics, cosmology and human existence within the Vedas and the Upaniṣads. These traditions are ordinarily associated with male sages; yet Vedic literature also records the intellectual contributions of women known as Brahmavādinīs, seekers, philosophers, teachers and composers of sacred hymns. Their participation shows that women held a genuine place in the educational and philosophical landscape of early Vedic society. This study examines the historical, philosophical and social significance of the Brahmavādinīs through textual analysis of the Ṝgveda, the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad and other classical Sanskrit sources, read alongside contemporary scholarship. The paper considers the lives and contributions of Ghoṣā, Lopāmudrā, Vāk Ambhṛṇī, Apālā, Viśvavārā Ātreyi, Romāśā, Rātrī Bhāradvājī, Yamī Vaivasvatī, Maitreyī and Gārgī Vācaknavī. Their hymns and philosophical dialogues reveal a mature understanding of metaphysics, ethics, education and spiritual inquiry. The study also traces the gradual decline of women's participation in philosophical and educational institutions during later periods, examining the socio-cultural factors behind this transformation. Beyond historical reconstruction, the paper argues for the continuing relevance of the Brahmavādinī tradition to present debates on gender equality, women's education, intellectual freedom, leadership and feminist philosophy. The Brahmavādinīs offer an indigenous model of women's empowerment grounded in knowledge, ethical responsibility and spiritual realization. Recovering their intellectual legacy contributes to a fuller understanding of Indian philosophical history and to present efforts toward gender-inclusive education envisioned in India's National Education Policy and in global sustainable development goals.